Minimising harm to pollinators over flowering is a critical consideration when spraying for macadamia lace bug. Sivanto prime is a unique insecticide from Bayer (Group 4D) which meets this need, whilst providing strong protection against this destructive pest.

Bayer grower marketing lead: horticulture, Anthony De Monte said the macadamia industry is set to benefit with this new generation insecticide available for use against lace bug this year.

Sivanto prime was inspired by a natural plant compound from the plant Stemona japonica. It has low toxicity to Australian native stingless bees and European honeybees and is harmless to hoverflies when used as directed.

This provides growers and beekeepers with greater flexibility during flowering, as accidental overspray does not cause bee disorientation or impact colony strength and survival.

Mr De Monte said field trials in the Northern Rivers showed it outperformed standard organophosphate insecticides for control of lace bug. Sivanto prime provides contact activity which rapidly prevents sap feeding by adult or juvenile lace bugs.

“Sivanto prime’s systemic properties allow further protection in the raceme against later re-infestation. The industry recommendation is to monitor green, unopened racemes, and spray no later than 5% open flowers.

“Sivanto prime can be used for lace bug control without being disruptive to many important beneficial species like predatory mites, lacewings, parasitoids and ladybird beetles.”

Mr De Monte said prolonging the abundance of beneficial species early is essential in the overall pest management strategy. This has been shown to reduce the build-up of pest mite populations over summer in commercial avocado production compared to standard insecticides in the Bundaberg district. 

“This season, Sivanto prime should only be used at 50 mL/100 L against macadamia lace bug, with a maximum of one application per 12-month period. Wider recommendations for the use of Sivanto prime in macadamias is expected in 2023, after establishment of export tolerances for higher application rates for the control of spotting bugs,” he said.